HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Commissioner’s May 12 proclamation of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day provided a platform to introduce a new integrated program to assist children and their families. Read more

ELDRED, NY — That old stereo, TV, computer, monitor and all the other electronic gadgets that most of us can’t do without, but nonetheless become outdated every two or three years, are probably going to be hanging around the house a bit longer than planned. Read more

HORTONVILLE, NY — Citizens turned out at the Town of Delaware Town Board meeting specifically to hear about the town’s zoning regarding commercial solar panels. Supervisor Ed Sykes acknowledged the citizens’ presence as he spoke about the zoning law amendment. Read more

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — “This is too important to be decided by five town board members without input from all town residents.” Supervisor Gary Maas’ statement at the May 11 Cochecton Town Board meeting referred to the issue before the board: whether or not to permit solar farms—the commercial production of solar energy—within the town. Read more

KIRYAS JOEL, NY — It was reported in dozens of media outlets that the FBI raided various locations in Kiryas Joel, the Orange County village populated mostly by members of the Hasidic community. The raid occurred on May 12, but just what the FBI and other officials were looking for is not clear (a couple of articles reported that members of the Sullivan County District Attorney’s office were involved). Read more

HARRISBURG, PA — At a news conference held at the state capitol on May 11, PA State Sen. Art Haywood joined Senate Democratic colleagues and community leaders calling for tax reform to protect middle- and low-income Pennsylvanians, introducing legislation that would reduce their tax burden. Read more

HARRIBURG, PA — The PA House of Representatives on May 17 overwhelmingly approved Senate Bill 290, which would make the ignition interlock program mandatory for certain first-time DUI offenders and, in those cases where the interlock program is applied, reduce driver’s license suspension requirements. State Rep. Keith J. Greiner was one of the sponsors. Read more

ALBANY, NY — In celebration and observance of the annual Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Minority Leader Brian Kolb on May 17 announced the passage of a package of legislation that would improve the quality of life for New Yorkers with disabilities. Read more

HONESDALE, PA — His voice breaking with emotion at times, borough resident Bill Musgrove described the house next door to his on Freethy Pond Road. Musgrove told the Honesdale Borough Council at its May 16 meeting that he had purchased his current home in 1997, that since 2013 the house next door has been vacant, and that the rapidly deteriorating property has become a public health hazard. Read more

WHITE LAKE, NY — During public comment at the Bethel town meeting on May 12, attorney Kirk Orseck made a brief presentation concerning the well-known used car dealership on Route 17B in Mongaup Valley, Seven X Motors. Orseck said that he represented a group called Gale Road Residents Association, and detailed a number of complaints he said were violations of town code and state law. Orseck said representatives of an engineering firm had accompanied him to the meeting. Read more

After more than 30 years of discussion, it seems the proposed new Sullivan County jail may soon become a reality. At a meeting at the government center on May 12, the county manager, Josh Potosek, outlined three resolutions that would allow for the jail project to go out to bid and for construction to begin if approved by the county legislature. Read more

Director Jacqui Sturgis, seated second from the left, and members of her staff at the Wayne County Area Agency on Aging are pictured on May 5, with county commissioners Wendell Kay, Brian Smith and Jonathan Fritz after the commissioners proclaimed May as Older Americans Month in Wayne County. The agency, which operates centers in Honesdale, Hawley and Hamlin is celebrating the month with its “Blaze a Trail” program promoting activities, inclusion and wellness for older Americans. Read more

HAWLEY, PA — Pike County Correctional Facility (PCCF) is considered a model facility of its kind. The scope of programs that are offered is so large and all-encompassing that other jails request copies of their well organized booklets, in which the staff has carefully named and described each program and specified at whom it is aimed and its desired outcome. Read more

CALLICOON, NY — The historic Western Hotel, in the bucolic hamlet of Callicoon, is preparing to change hands for the first time in almost 50 years. The iconic 19th century building has been a hotel, restaurant and gathering space for this Delaware River community. Like many anchor properties in rural towns, it has lain dormant for some time. But recently Irene Nikolai, with her commercial real estate background, saw the possibilities in the property. In the ballroom, for instance, she envisions arts programming, film screenings, performances, dance classes and much more. Read more

The National Park Service (NPS) has decided that a collection of trees, limbs and other debris that have collected on a sand bar south of the PA Darbytown Fishing Access is a natural formation and will not be removed. Superintendent Chris Heister was asked for a ruling about the debris by the Upper Delaware Council and delivered a two-page opinion, following an NPS inspection of the debris, which rangers termed “LWD,” large woody debris. Council members expressed concern that the debris might create a navigation hazard for boaters or an attractive nuisance, which could prompt injuries. Read more

NARROWSBURG, NY — Ongoing and planned bridge closures and construction have prompted some confusion over the many orange detour signs redirecting traffic around the Skinners Falls and Narrowsburg bridges, National Park Service (NPS) Superintendent Chris Heister said on May 5. Read more

NARROWSBURG, NY — In light of recent Town of Tusten board meetings regarding a new camping zoning law, conversations about waste removal have come up. These conversations in part centered on the new company Tentrr and how it removes waste from camping sites. Read more